List of the Most Popular Korean Dramas in 2024
In the world of Korean dramas (K-dramas), 2024 has been a bountiful year for captivating storytelling, strong performances, and innovative presentation styles. Among the most popular shows are "Love Next Door" and "When Life Gives You Tangerines", both of which have garnered critical acclaim and wide viewership.
"Love Next Door" tells the story of Seok-ryu, a woman who appears to have the perfect life abroad but faces burnout and returns to South Korea to reboot her life. The drama delves into themes of friendship, personal growth, and rekindled romance, all anchored by the well-drawn childhood-friends-to-lovers trope and performances by Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min. Its depiction of real struggles with burnout resonates with modern viewers, alongside a smooth blend of romantic comedy elements.
On the other hand, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" became a major hit on Netflix in early 2025, thanks to its star pairing of musicians IU and Park Bo Gum. The show's narrative and emotionally rich performances by Moon So Ri and Park Hae Joon contributed significantly to its success. Its innovative release format, dropping episodes in small batches weekly, was also credited with building anticipation and engagement. The series is praised for its emotional depth, character-driven storytelling, and cinematic quality that elevates the romantic drama genre.
Both shows exemplify diverse approaches to storytelling in contemporary K-dramas, blending relatable modern issues (burnout, career struggles, complex relationships) with endearing romance or drama to make these series engaging. The performances by acclaimed actors bring authenticity and gravitas to their characters, drawing viewers deeply into the narrative. The cinematic experience varies, with "Love Next Door" offering cozy charm and poignant moments within a romantic comedy framework, while "When Life Gives You Tangerines" delivers emotional intensity and polished production, leveraging Netflix’s global platform to reach wide audiences.
While not from 2024 specifically, widely acclaimed dramas like "Crash Landing on You", classics like "Boys Over Flowers" and "Pachinko" continue to set high standards with their storytelling complexity, moral nuance, and historical/cultural depth that elevated K-dramas globally.
In addition to these popular shows, other notable K-dramas from 2024 include "My Demon", a fantasy rom-com that pairs Song Kang and Kim Yoo-jung in a love story between a human and a demon. "Extraordinary Attorney Woo", a legal dramedy, features moving storytelling and solid performances, drawing new audiences worldwide. "True Beauty", based on a webtoon, is a coming-of-age story about self-acceptance, love, and friendship. "Branding in Seongsu" offers an identity crisis fairytale-style sweetness and hot office set pieces, while "King the Land" features a romantic comedy about a hotel chain heir and a serious chips worker dealing with family expectations and feelings for each other. "Doctor Slump" is a tear-jerker about two doctors navigating career blues and personal troubles, striking a balance between zingers and sobs.
Lastly, "Squid Game", a Netflix K-drama released in 2021, remains one of the most-watched K-dramas in 2024 due to its tight survival narrative and deep social commentary. Another classic family drama, "Queen of Tears (Heirs)" from 2013, stars Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won and has record-setting viewership, making it a must-see in 2024.
In sum, the most popular 2024 K-dramas gain distinction through well-crafted relatable stories, strong star performances, and innovative presentation styles that blend traditional romance with modern societal themes, enhancing their cinematic appeal and broad viewer connection.
- The anime-style K-drama "My Demon" offers a fresh take on the romance genre, blending fantasy elements with a lovestory between a human and a demon.
- The animation category in movies-and-tv entertainment witnessed a significant boost with the release of "Doctor Slump", a tear-jerker balancing light-hearted humour and emotional depth.
- Unique storytelling and captivating performances have made "Love Next Door" and "When Life Gives You Tangerines" popular on social media as they tackle modern issues like burnout while delivering an engaging romantic comedy and emotional romantic drama, respectively.
- Apart from these, "Branding in Seongsu" and "King the Land" stand out with their unique fairytale-style plots and office rom-com narratives, resonating with viewers globally on Netflix.
